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Government debt levels are expected to rise further, surpassing the legal limits set under the Fiscal Responsibility Act. The immediate challenge for government is to maintain fiscal discipline throughout the second half of 2016. The Department of Treasury in its Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook report released yesterday stated the fiscal outlook for 2016 had declined in the first half of the year.

It said this is expected to result in a deficit of K3.9 billion [US$1,208,240,000] or 5.9 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an increase of K1.8 billion [US$557,647,000] compared to the initial level of K2.1 billion [US$650,588,000] or 3.1 per cent-at the time of the 2016 Budget.

The three defendants arrested in Oregon for forging CNMI tax rebate checks have submitted letters of consent to transfer the venue of the trial to the U.S. District Court of Oregon.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell H. Lorfing submitted the consent to transfer the case for plea and sentence of Brooke K. Phillips, Larry M. Tagabuel and Kenatis M. Alafanso, and requested that the federal court clerk transmit copies of the consent letters to Oregon District Court.

Results of the annual Marshall Islands Standard Achievement Test show modest improvement in some grades. But continuing low proficiency rates, particularly in English, math and science, plague students in many grades in this north Pacific nation.

In addition, Marshall Islands fifth and seventh graders showed the lowest test scores in the Pacific region, according to results from the Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment presented last week to principals and head teachers in Majuro.

The Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O’Neill CMG MP, has highlighted the value of increased flights between Papua New Guinea and the Philippines during a farewell meeting by outgoing Philippines Ambassador, H.E. Bienvenido Tejano, today at the Sir Manasupe Haus.

The Prime Minister said the number of tourist arrivals in the country from the Philippines has quadrupled of the last decade from 42,000 in 1995 to 182,000 in 2014, with the number continuing to grow. “The increase in passengers flying between the two countries is stimulating business and job growth, as well as creating more opportunities for people from the two countries to meet,” the Prime Minister said.

Department of public safety also unveils dog-patrol program to bolster patrol capacity, particularly anti-narcotics

By Junhan B. Todiño

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, August 04, 2016) – With its newly acquired x-ray machines, the Division of Customs Services will be able to reduce the number of hours required to inspect newly arrived goods on Saipan, Customs Director Joe Mafnas said on Wednesday.

“Without the aid of x-ray equipment, searching for contraband or undeclared goods in a 24-foot container can take hours and hours, even a day or more,” he said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the x-ray machines at the customs office in Lower Base.

He said in any customs jurisdiction x-ray equipment is a critical tool in border management.

Only 20% of households in the Pacific Islands have access to electricity, and electricity prices in the region are among the highest in the world, the Pacific Power Association Conference in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, was reminded yesterday.

Significant investment is needed in the energy sector in the Pacific islands but so far the environment has not favoured private sector participation in energy development, said the keynote speaker, Kamleshwar Khelawan, a Senior Energy Specialist at the World Bank. All Pacific Islands face a similar set of unique challenges in providing energy for sustainable development.

Five more Nepalese men have been repatriated after being stranded in the Federated States of Micronesia They are from a group of 16 Nepalese found nearly starving, along with around 18 Indians, in Micronesia in late 2014 after being swindled by human traffickers.

Hoping to reach the US or Australia, they paid for help from human traffickers who smuggled them to Micronesia on boats via Malaysia and Indonesia before leaving them stranded.

Members of the Parties to the Nauru agreement are reaping large returns off fishing vessel licenses but the PNA says the windfall won't last forever. The eight member countries of the PNA and Tokelau employ a vessel day scheme which charges foreign ships at least US$8,000 a day to fish in their waters.

High demand for the limited number of fishing days has sparked a bidding war between companies with some paying as much as US$16,000 per day.

Most of the damages caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston were mainly a result of unsustainable use of the environment, says Permanent Secretary for Rural & Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, Meleti Bainimarama.

He highlighted this as part of his observation during his two day visit to the Western Division this week.

Australia is intentionally ignoring appalling human rights abuses against men, women and children being held in detention on Nauru, a new report from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International says. The report said Australia's offshore detention policy had resulted in the abuse of refugees and asylum seekers, which had been hidden behind a wall of secrecy.

Under the policy, asylum seekers intercepted trying to reach Australia by boat are sent to camps - on Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea or in Nauru - which have drawn criticism for harsh conditions and reports of abuse.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.